D5985 — Radiation cone locator
D5985 is the cone locator that reproduces the same beam position at every radiotherapy appointment.
This is one of 14 closely related maxillofacial appliance codes. The treatment is explained in full in the maxillofacial appliance guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
What the number specifies, what it costs, what your plan is likely to do with it, and the named differences between it and the codes around it — in that order.
D5985 against the codes beside it
D5984 — Radiation shield: It is the shield that keeps radiation off healthy tissue during treatment.
D5986 — Fluoride gel carrier: It is the custom tray that holds fluoride gel against the teeth, made for patients at very high decay risk after radiotherapy.
D5983 — Radiation carrier: It is the radiation carrier that positions radioactive material precisely against the tissue being treated.
D5987 — Commissure splint: It is the commissure splint that holds the corner of the mouth open while a burn or wound heals, so that scarring does not close it.
D5985 sits in a group of 14 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. It is worth asking the practice to point to which of these applies. The fees are not close, and the wording is, which is precisely the combination that produces disputed bills.
Every code in this group
These codes describe the same broad procedure and differ in one respect each. Each has its own page with its own fee range and coverage notes.
Questions about D5985
What does dental code D5985 mean?
The procedure behind the number is radiation cone locator, filed under maxillofacial prosthetics.
Is D5985 expensive?
The usual range is $500–$1,500. Anything well outside it is worth a question rather than an assumption.
Will my plan pay for D5985?
Plans generally pay it as medical / maxillofacial treatment, variable, subject to whatever is left of your maximum for the year.
What is the difference between D5985 and D5984?
D5984 is radiation shield: it is the shield that keeps radiation off healthy tissue during treatment. Because they describe different work, D5985 and D5984 can legitimately appear on the same treatment plan — they are not alternatives to choose between.
Also known as: radiation carrier, fluoride tray, surgical stent, speech aid, feeding appliance.